"Diogo Jota's Death Anniversary Could Boost National Team Against Croatia"

Portugal is gearing up to face Croatia in the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup, but the emotional weight surrounding the match extends far beyond the typical significance of a knockout tie. The game takes place on the eve of the one-year anniversary of Diogo Jota's death – in Canada, where the match is being played, it's actually July 3rd – a loss that remains deeply felt within the National Team's locker room.

According to Carlos Fernandes, a Sports and Performance Psychologist and one of the coordinators of the Post-Graduate Program in Sports and Performance Psychology at the Faculty of Education and Psychology at the Catholic University of Portugal in Porto, such events can impact team performance, but not necessarily in a negative way.

"If there's prior preparatory work, where athletes are spoken to, the team is prepared, and an effort is made to reframe this situation into a collective purpose of honoring Diogo, we know these purposes are incredibly powerful. When motivation isn't solely individual interest but something transcendent, we can access higher levels of energy, effort, and discipline than when we're only driven by self-interest," he explained in an interview with A BOLA.

The expert emphasizes that psychological work in competitive environments involves both preparing for foreseeable situations and the ability to react to unexpected events. "Often there are circumstances we can't anticipate, and we need to react to them with more than just common sense – with qualified and well-thought-out intervention. For example, the death of Ricardo Carvalho's father, or another unforeseen circumstance that might provoke unexpected emotional reactions. And it's crucial to know how to react to that."

"In these circumstances, there's no single 'correct' reaction. Everyone reacts in their own way, in their own time, and that's perfectly fine. A psychologist's job is to create a space where people can have their reactions, talk about them, receive the necessary support, and specifically, validate that reaction and guide it towards a more functional outcome. That is, to try and leverage something that might be uncomfortable, strange, frightening, or distracting, and find strategies for it to enhance sports performance rather than become a distraction," he clarified.

The psychologist recalls that football has seen numerous examples of teams finding additional strength in the memory of fallen teammates. "There have been situations in the past where players passed away, and later we see interviews with teammates saying they wanted to win the title and dedicate it or honor their colleague with that achievement. This can be worked on, either by anticipating it or by reacting with great humanity."

"Among those who were closest to Diogo Jota, some might find that extra motivation, be more focused, have the energy to run the last 100 meters or in the 90+3 minute. While another teammate in the group might feel inhibited by not being able to regulate those sensations as well. In that case, it wouldn't be the best option for the game. It's a circumstance, a stimulus, an event that, if not managed, can hinder some players' performance, but if well-managed, can empower others."

Portugal thus approaches one of the most crucial World Cup matches carrying an unusual emotional dimension. The ambition to advance in the competition intertwines with the memory of Diogo Jota and the recent grief experienced by Ricardo Carvalho. In such a context, emotional management could be as vital as any tactical adjustment in facing Croatia.